Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky are not known to be relatives, business partners, or longtime personal collaborators. The clearest documented links between them are their shared “The Great One” nickname and Johnson’s well-documented connection to hockey, including a 2010 film role that led him to publicly reference Gretzky.
Both men became major crossover figures far beyond their original sports. Gretzky built his reputation through one of the most statistically dominant careers in NHL history, while Johnson moved from college football to professional wrestling and then became a major Hollywood actor.
Are Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky Connected?
There is no well-established public record showing a close personal relationship between Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. They come from different professional backgrounds and different generations of elite sport.
Their most interesting connection is cultural. Both have been widely associated with the nickname “The Great One.” Gretzky earned the name during his extraordinary hockey career, while Johnson used it as one of several larger-than-life nicknames for his wrestling persona, The Rock. WWE’s official profile still lists Johnson as a performer who has been called “The Great One.”
Johnson has even acknowledged the Gretzky comparison himself. In an archived interview, he joked about the distinction between the two men, essentially noting that Gretzky’s reputation produced the nickname organically, while The Rock was happy to proclaim his own greatness as part of his wrestling character.
That comment provides one of the strongest direct documented links between the two celebrities.
Why Are Both Called “The Great One”?
Wayne Gretzky’s nickname came from hockey dominance
Wayne Gretzky’s claim to the nickname is closely tied to his NHL record.
Born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky became the defining offensive player of his era. He finished his NHL regular-season career with 2,857 points, including 1,963 assists and 894 goals in 1,487 games. He remains the NHL’s career leader in points and assists.
Gretzky also won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, nine Hart Trophies as NHL MVP and ten Art Ross Trophies as the league’s leading scorer. His No. 99 was retired across the NHL, an extraordinarily rare league-wide honor.
One famous Gretzky record has since changed. His 894 regular-season goals were the NHL record for more than three decades, but Alex Ovechkin passed that total in April 2025. Gretzky nevertheless remains comfortably ahead of every other NHL player in career points.
Dwayne Johnson turned the nickname into a wrestling persona
Dwayne Johnson’s version of “The Great One” developed in a completely different environment.
Johnson played defensive line for the University of Miami before professional wrestling became his main career. University of Miami records describe him as a member of the Hurricanes’ 1991 national championship team, with 78 tackles and 4.25 sacks during his college career.
He debuted in WWE in 1996 and eventually transformed from the clean-cut Rocky Maivia character into The Rock, one of professional wrestling’s biggest stars. WWE credits him with multiple world championships, major WrestleMania appearances and a career that expanded into film and television.
“The Great One” became part of that character alongside nicknames such as The People’s Champion and The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment.
The important distinction is that Gretzky’s nickname belongs to the language of sporting achievement, while Johnson’s became part achievement, part entertainment branding and part deliberately exaggerated wrestling confidence.
Also Read: Emma Walmsley and Wayne Gretzky
Dwayne Johnson’s Hockey Connection
The strongest sports connection between Johnson and Gretzky came through Tooth Fairy, the 2010 fantasy comedy starring Johnson.
Johnson played Derek Thompson, a tough minor-league hockey player nicknamed the Tooth Fairy because of his reputation for knocking opponents’ teeth out. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and also starred Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews and Stephen Merchant.
Although Johnson looked convincing as a physical hockey player, he did not suddenly become an expert skater.
While promoting the movie on ESPN’s First Take, Johnson discussed how difficult skating had been for him and said the production used a skating double for demanding sequences. Reporting on the interview also recorded an especially relevant comment: Johnson said that if he were an NHL player, he would be a combination of Wayne Gretzky and Ray Bourque.
It was clearly a playful comparison rather than a serious claim about hockey ability, but it confirms that Gretzky was directly on Johnson’s mind while he was portraying a hockey player.
Johnson also said the experience increased his appreciation for hockey players after spending time around them during production.
Did Wayne Gretzky Appear in Tooth Fairy With Dwayne Johnson?
No. Wayne Gretzky was not part of the principal cast of Tooth Fairy.
The film’s listed cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews, Stephen Merchant, Ryan Sheckler and other actors, but not Gretzky. Johnson’s association with Gretzky came through hockey comparisons and commentary surrounding the movie rather than an on-screen collaboration between the two.
This distinction matters because searches combining the two names can easily create the impression that Gretzky appeared in Johnson’s hockey movie.
He did not.
Another Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky Crossover: Video Games
There is also a smaller connection through the Ultimate Rivals sports video game franchise.
Apple launched Ultimate Rivals: The Rink in 2019 as a crossover game featuring athletes from several sports. Wayne Gretzky was specifically included as one of the retired sports legends available in the game.
The franchise later expanded with Ultimate Rivals: The Court. Reports surrounding that title announced that WWE personalities, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, would join a roster that already included Gretzky and other stars from major professional sports.
This was a licensed entertainment crossover, not evidence that Johnson and Gretzky personally worked together on the game.
How Their Athletic Backgrounds Differ
| Category | Dwayne Johnson | Wayne Gretzky |
|---|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1972 | January 26, 1961 |
| Primary sport | Professional wrestling | Ice hockey |
| Earlier sport | College football | Junior and professional hockey |
| Famous identity | The Rock | The Great One |
| Major organization | WWE | NHL |
| Hockey connection | Played fictional hockey player Derek Thompson | 20-season NHL career |
| “The Great One” nickname | Wrestling and entertainment persona | Hockey nickname tied to career achievements |
Johnson’s sporting journey began with football. He played at Miami and pursued football before entering professional wrestling.
Gretzky’s path was almost entirely centered on hockey. He eventually played NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers before retiring in 1999.
Their athletic stories are therefore quite different despite the nickname they share.
Wayne Gretzky’s Record Explains Why the Comparison Stands Out
References to Gretzky carry unusual weight because his statistical separation from most NHL players remains enormous.
His 2,857 regular-season points remain the NHL record. His 1,963 assists alone exceed the total career points accumulated by almost every other player in league history. Official NHL records continue to list him first in career assists and career points.
He also produced the three highest single-season point totals in NHL history, including a record 215 points in 1985-86.
That context helps explain Johnson’s joke about their shared nickname. In professional wrestling, calling oneself “The Great One” fits the theatrical swagger of The Rock. In Gretzky’s case, the phrase became shorthand for decades of hockey records and championships.
What Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky Have in Common
Their careers are not directly connected, but several broader similarities explain why people continue to associate their names.
Both became much bigger than the sport that first made them famous. Gretzky helped broaden hockey’s visibility, particularly after his 1988 move from Edmonton to Los Angeles. NHL historical coverage credits his arrival in California with generating substantial interest in hockey in the U.S. market.
Johnson similarly moved beyond wrestling. His WWE fame became a platform for a major film and television career, while he has continued to make occasional high-profile appearances in professional wrestling. WWE’s current profile documents his return to the ring at WrestleMania XL in 2024, where he teamed with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
Both therefore became recognizable cultural personalities even among people who did not closely follow hockey or wrestling.
Are Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky Friends?
There is not enough reliable public evidence to describe them as close friends.
Johnson has publicly referenced Gretzky, and they have occupied some overlapping entertainment and sports spaces, but that is different from a documented friendship. No authoritative source located for this article establishes a regular personal relationship between them.
Claims that they are close friends should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by a direct statement, interview or documented appearance.
FAQ
Are Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky related?
No documented evidence shows that Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky are related. Johnson comes from the Johnson and Maivia wrestling family, while Gretzky was born into the Gretzky family in Brantford, Ontario.
Why are Dwayne Johnson and Wayne Gretzky both called The Great One?
Wayne Gretzky received the nickname because of his extraordinary hockey career and record-setting NHL performance. Dwayne Johnson used “The Great One” as one of The Rock’s professional wrestling nicknames and openly joked about the fact that he proclaimed the title himself.
Did Dwayne Johnson ever play professional hockey?
No. Johnson was a college football player and professional wrestler, not a professional hockey player. He portrayed fictional minor-league hockey player Derek Thompson in the 2010 movie Tooth Fairy.
Did Dwayne Johnson ever mention Wayne Gretzky?
Yes. Johnson has referred to Gretzky directly. While discussing Tooth Fairy and hockey in 2010, he jokingly described the type of NHL player he would be by invoking Gretzky and Ray Bourque, and an earlier archived interview also records him discussing their shared “Great One” nickname.
Was Wayne Gretzky in Tooth Fairy with Dwayne Johnson?
No. Gretzky was not listed among the film’s principal cast. Johnson played hockey player Derek Thompson, but Gretzky’s connection to the subject comes from Johnson’s hockey comments rather than an acting appearance.
Does Wayne Gretzky still hold the NHL goals record?
No. Gretzky retired with 894 regular-season goals, but Alex Ovechkin surpassed that mark in April 2025. Gretzky still holds the NHL records for career regular-season points and assists.
Also Read: Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky
